Doctors take days off - why not P.I.s? V.I. Warshawski demands. But when America's hardest-working private eye goes clubbing, a stranger is shot and dies in her arms.

V.I. has been visiting Club Gouge, Chicago's edgiest nightspot, where a woman known as the Body Artist turns her naked body into a canvas for the audience to paint on. The show attracts all kinds of people, from a menacing off-duty cop to Ukrainian mobsters and Iraq war vets - and V.I.'s impetuous cousin, Petra. A tormented young painter shows up, too, and the intricate designs she creates on the Body Artist drive one of the vets into a violent rage.

When the painter is shot, the cops figure it's an easy collar: PTSD vet goes off the rails, stalks then kills young woman. But the vet's family hires V.I. to clear his name, and the detective uncovers a chain of ugly truths that stretches all the way from Iraq to Chicago's South Side.

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Listener Opinions

by Cindy | 2/16/2014

" It has been many years (15? 20?) since I began reading this series, but I remember finding the earlier ones a lot more engrossing than Paretsky's more recent titles. In this particular story, I tired of the club scenes involving the Body Artist early on; some of that could have been omitted without affecting the plot. I do admire the fact that Paretsky incorporates current social issues into the fabric of her mysteries. However, I find cousin Petra annoying and wish she would "move on". "

by Amy | 2/13/2014

" I love the V.I Warshawski series! I was disappointed in her last book Fire Sale so this is a great reminder that Paretsky hasn't taken a wrong turn. Twists and turns up to the last chapter. I love a good who-done-it. Almost gave it 3 stars instead of 4 but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. "

by Carrie | 2/11/2014

" This was great. A very exciting, typical (in a good way) V.I. Washshawski novel that is among Paretsky's best. I love the character of V.I. Warshawski, and how she does whatever it takes to get a job done. And as tough as Vic is, I love how human she is as well, and how much her friends and loved ones worry about her and the scrapes she gets into. "

" The ending was more unbelievable than usually, but I love V.I. anyway. "

Vicki Klemm | 1/3/2014

" Easy reading who done it. Fast, entertaining reading. "

Philip | 11/21/2013

" Not as good as some of the earlier books "

Barb | 11/14/2013

" Love V.I. and this book was excellent - fast paced with an intriguing plot. "

Lisa Wilcox | 11/1/2013

" Not Paretsky's best. I've enjoyed her gift for bringing a gritty Chicago (and gritty heroine) alive on the page, but I had to put this one down only a couple dozen pages in --for unbelievability. "

Janette | 10/20/2013

" I like her a lot, but this one was a little edgy for me. The mystery was a bit wild and hard to keep track of. "

Eve Woods | 10/7/2013

" First time reading anything from Sara Paretsky. Will read more. Did guess the outcome pretty early but felt that the ending was a bit drawn out. Easy read. "

Vickie T | 9/30/2013

" An odd artist who lets people pain on her naked body at a club set off a chain of events that V.I. and her niece Petra find themselves involved in. A young woman ends up dead and a young soldier back from Iraq is arrested for killing her. Great read. "

Judy Hilvers | 9/20/2013

" Excellent book! Very realistic, very well written and played out. "

Mary | 3/10/2013

" V.I. is actually ageing, and I like it! Paretsky writes about a feminist detective who is no nonsense about her feminist philosophy, and as usual, the read (listen) is satisfying. "

Jackie | 2/4/2013

" Great fun to have VI back again, and as good as ever. Loved the depth of the characters, and the unabashedly liberal tint. "

Jo | 1/15/2013

" I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the earlier V.I. books. I find it to be a little preachy. Women detectives shouldn't have to apologize for being tough. "

Sandra | 10/31/2012

" Unlike several of the female crime fictions writers that I have read over the years, Paretsky consistently excels. Always can't-put-it-down suspense along with great character development! "

Kathy | 10/1/2012

" I always like V. I., and this case is no exception. Vic's cousin Petra has gone to work for a shady bar owner whose chief draw is an artist who lets customers paint on her naked body. Of course, one of those customers is murdered, and it's way more complex than you first expect. Always a good read. "

Aunt | 8/21/2012

" I would have preferred to give this 3.5 stars...this was good and Paretsky's ia a "meatier" writer than some of the other stuff I read. "

Mary | 4/8/2012

" Not only love her books about V. I. Warshawksi Novels, but like that they are set in Chicago. Makes me home sick for ole Chi-Town. Very good read. "

Ann | 3/15/2012

" One of the joys of reading a V.I. Warshawski book is the opportunity to get inside Vic's head and vicariously live in her Chicago world for a little bit. This is no exception and I am glad to know the denouement and sad to have it end. "

Lorie | 1/18/2012

" VI Warshawski can still kick butt even at 50. She is willing to do things that I would never do! It was a good plot with good recurring characters. "

Carol | 1/4/2012

" Another fun detective story by Sara Paretsky. I think I have read most of her V.I. Warshawski series over the years. This story was very timely with G.I.'s with PTS and sleazy military contractors. "

Marianne | 10/14/2011

" V. I. Warshawsky is great! "

Joanne | 5/3/2011

" The best in this series in a while. VI is not quite as strident, while still maintaining her desire to help the underdog. Good plot - lots of twists. "

" Hadn't read this series for awhile and I had forgotten how much I like V.I. I'm adding more to my "must read" list.
"

Amy | 3/7/2011

" I love the V.I Warshawski series! I was disappointed in her last book Fire Sale so this is a great reminder that Paretsky hasn't taken a wrong turn. Twists and turns up to the last chapter. I love a good who-done-it. Almost gave it 3 stars instead of 4 but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
"

Kelly | 2/28/2011

" This is a series that has stayed fresh and exciting. The author does a great job at aging her character and having stories still seem real.
"

Margaret | 2/28/2011

" I liked V.I. better before she became a spokesperson for causes.
"

Sherry | 2/22/2011

" I listened rather than read. The actress who channels V. I. has all young women speaking like Valley Girls of yore, which is off-putting, but I am still a V. I. fan.
"

Mary | 2/7/2011

" Not only love her books about V. I. Warshawksi Novels, but like that they are set in Chicago. Makes me home sick for ole Chi-Town. Very good read.
"

Mgupshaw | 2/7/2011

" Enjoyed the Chicago setting. But nothing felt familiar about this one!
"

Lynne | 2/5/2011

" I think I'm tired of V.I. at this point. It's time she grew up and stopped making everything so difficult.
"

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